Update

A fix has been released from Microsoft today (12/17/08): More information can be found at Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-078. If you have Windows Update running, you should have downloaded this patch automatically. If not, you can download it from here.

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Users of the world’s most common web browser have been advised to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed.

The flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people’s computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say….

Click here to read the full story from the BBC.

The security flaw must be serious if people are being advised to switch to a different browser until it is fixed. Alternatives to IE (which are better =P):

• Firefox
• Chrome
• Opera

My personal observations:

• In terms of speed (browser load up time), Chrome > Opera > Firefox.
• In terms of webpage load time, Chrome > Firefox > Opera.
• In terms of features/plugins, Firefox > Opera > Chrome.
• In terms of coolness, Chrome > Firefox > Opera.

I use Chrome because I like how it is faster then Firefox, but I have Firefox installed on my computer and still use it from time to time because many websites do not work properly in Chrome yet (such as Hotmail). My suggestion for people changing from IE, temporarily or otherwise, is to get Firefox.